Any parent will tell you that travelling with a child is one of the most stressful things about parenting, especially when flying.
So imagine the stress for one mother who actually gave birth on the plane.
The new mum, who wasn’t set to give birth until October, gave fellow passengers on the eight-hour flight from Dubai to Manila a rare surprise when she gave birth to her baby while mid-flight.
One of the passengers Missy Berberabe Umandal, shared the unique birth story on her Facebook account, saying: “The lady started having contractions mid-flight, about five hours in going to the Philippines. She was set to give birth on October, so this came to a surprise, even to her Mother who picked her up from Dubai.”
Despite claiming the flight attendants “panicked ever so slightly” the expectant mother was calmly moved to the front of the plane where the baby was delivered.
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“We only heard one semi-loud screech, and a few seconds later, there were tinier, cute screeches, and it was when we knew the baby was born,” Umandal wrote. “Luckily, she only had to push ONCE. Moments later, the woman got up to go back to her seat, baby in arms (mighty strong, I might say).”
Flight attendants washed the baby with mineral water in the galley and clothed it, thanks to donations from fellow passengers flying with infants.
Despite mum and baby seeming happy – yet shocked – and healthy, the flight was diverted to India to ensure the baby’s safety.
Mum and baby on the Cebu Pacific. Image credit: Facebook.com/missyinthecityyy
“It was immediately decided that an emergency landing in India was necessary to ensure the baby’s health, as it was born 2 months earlier than expected,” added Umandal. “What was supposed to be a nine-hour flight became roughly 18 hours, but no complaints… everyone in that plane was blessed.”
Umandal, who must seriously be the most informed passenger ever, also revealed “there is an existing rule of when a child is born mid-air, the baby will hold citizenship of the country the plane lands on next. While this rule still applies in USA, it has been revoked in most countries, including the Philippines.”
“[The baby] will carry a Philippine passport (since Cebu Pacific is a Philippine airline).”
Ask if all of this wasn’t exciting enough, Cebu Pacific have revealed the baby, which is thought to have been named Haven, will receive a lifetime of free flights from the airline.
Main image: Getty
